The power of Instagram advertising provided me the name of a tea company in Charleston, South Carolina that I was not aware of it. Oliver Pluff & Co. offers teas, toddies, wassails, coffee, and cacao. What sets them apart from other tea brands is that the teas they procure are from the same origins as the tea consumed in 18th century America. Their packaging and marketing reflect the historical relevance and controversy of tea drinking during that period.

On the heels of the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, I thought I would order one of their sample packages. There is a Boston Tea Party collection, but I wanted to try out their Smoky Tea Collection first, which does include two teas dumped overboard during the tea party rebellion. 

1. Caravan
2. Colonial Bohea (240 chests destroyed at Boston Tea Party)
3. Lapsang Souchong (10 chests destroyed at Boston Tea Party)
4. Scottish Breakfast
5. Whiskey Rebellion

I am already a smoky tea lover, so I was pretty sure I wouldn’t dislike any of these teas, and I was right. One of my favorites is already the Lapsang Souchong and I’m a sucker for a good Scottish Breakfast tea. So, my first foray in this sampling was the Colonial Bohea, touted as being more popular at that time than all other teas combined. It’s probably why so much of it was destroyed during the Boston Tea Party.

The packaging for these collections is quite unique. Instead of a tin, bag, or small jar to contain the loose leaves, Oliver Pluff uses a set of test tubes. 

Although attractive and certainly an attention grabber, functionality is an issue if one forgets that the bottom of the tube is…well, a tube and it’s rounded. It does not set back down on the counter in an upright position and I ended up spilling half the contents of the tube. Remember to either replace the cork topper right away, or place the opened test tube back in it’s beautiful handcrafted cherry wood display base to maintain the upright position. I learned my lesson and continued my sampling in that manner. Oops! And I’m not sure what I’ll do with this display and test tubes once the tea is consumed.

I enjoyed Colonial Bohea. The write up indicates it’s “lightly smokey” when brewed at water temp. of 195º for 3-5 minutes. I brewed for the full 5 minutes. You can smell the Lapsang instantly, but the flavor certainly was a lighter “shade” of smoke. Still really, really good.

My favorite of the blends I hadn’t tried before was the Caravan. The short descriptions said it perfectly: “Rich, smooth, and lightly smokey.” Campfire in a cup, but that “smooth” part was reflected immediately. Not as overpowering as Lapsang Souchong, but almost more flavorful. It’s also an oolong, another favorite of mine.

The Whisky Rebellion blend was quite interesting. Because it’s briefly aged in a whisky barrel, I certainly got the bourbon scent the instant I took the cork out of the test tube.

I have enjoyed all five blends of tea and can recommend all of them if you’re a smokey tea lover like I am. 

I would order from Oliver Pluff & Co again and was pleased to see the current owner was originally born and raised in Smithfield, Maine and is a retired Brigadier General in the U.S. Air Force. It’s a small business and I do love how they’re telling the history of tea in America with their packaging, marketing, and more importantly, using the historical sources for their tea. Kudos to keeping those traditions alive and educating others.

Cheers!